COAGUIATION, FIBRINLYSIS AND KALLIKREIN ACTIVATION IN SEVERE INFECTION AND SEPSIS : RELATION TO OUTCOME
Fatal multiple organ failure following severe infection may be related to early activation of protease cascade systems. The study aimed to relate changes in the below mentioned components to shock and outcome. Of 53 patients with severe infection, 30 did not develop shock (group I); 12 survived septic shock (groupII); and 11 died from organ failure after septic shock (groupIII). No patient had overt DIC. During the first 3 days after admission, blood was sampled daily for assay of: platelet count, fibrinogen, prothrombin complex, F XII, F VIIIiC, vWF:Ag, F VII, F V, anti thrombin, protein C, plasminogen, antiplasmin, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAi), X-oligcmers, D-dimers, prekalli-krein, functional kallikrein inhibition (fKl), and fibronectin, by chramogenic substrate and inmunochemical techniques. The Proenzyme functioned, index (PFI) ves calculated combining the results of anti thrombin, plasminogen, antiplasmin, prekallikrein and fKL (Aasen, Acta Chir Scand 1985; 522: 211).Low (p<.001) initial values for F XII, prothrombin complex, F VII, antithrcmbin, protein C, prekallikrein, and fibronectin were seen in all groups. The shock groups (I-III) had in addition significant decreases in platelet count, antiplasmin, and plasminogen. Fibrinogen, F VIII :C, vWF:Ag, X-oligcmers, and D-dimers were significantly higher than normal in all groups. Shock patients had higher X-oligcmers and D-dimers, but lower fibrinogen than non-shock patients. PAi was within the normal range in survivors (I-II), but was elevated ten-fold and increased progressively over 3 days in the non-survivors. vWF:Ag showed a similar progressive increase in non^survivors; these two variables ware the best early indicators of non-survival. PFI was significantly lower in shock patients (II-III), but did not discern between survivors and non-survivors during days 1-3. The results indicate a marked activation of coagulation in patients with severe infection, with more fibrin formation and fibrinolysis in the shock groups. High vWF:Ag and PAi in non-survivors may indicate nmore endothelial damage, and potentially harmful fibrinolysis inhibition.